British technology company Dyson has entered the oral-care market with a £420 smart electric toothbrush equipped with a built-in camera, mouthwash jets and artificial intelligence-powered brushing feedback.
The company unveiled the device at an event in Paris on Tuesday, describing it as a high-tech dental system designed to brush teeth while helping users clean difficult-to-reach spaces between them.
Dyson said the toothbrush took six years to develop, involving 661 engineers, scientists and other specialists.
At the heart of the device is a 100,000-pixel macro camera which the company says works like an endoscope, giving users a close-up view of their teeth and gums through the MyDyson app.
The app also provides live footage while users brush and offers feedback on their brushing technique.
Dyson founder and chief engineer, James Dyson, said the company had spent years researching oral hygiene and how plaque develops inside the mouth.
He said engineers and scientists had “spent well over a decade understanding oral care regimes and how nasties build up in the mouth”.
The device uses its camera to identify spaces between teeth where plaque may accumulate. When such gaps are detected, a small jet in the toothbrush stem releases a burst of mouth rinse while brushing continues.
According to Dyson, the brush head simultaneously cleans along the gum line and helps remove surface stains.
The company claims its technology can remove “up to 72% more plaque than market leading electric toothbrushes”.
Dyson also plans to sell specially formulated toothpaste and mouth rinse alongside the toothbrush as part of what it calls a “complete dental system”.
The two products are priced at £8.50 each and are designed not to foam excessively, allowing the toothbrush’s camera to maintain a clear view inside the mouth.
James Dyson said the technology combines “a camera, machine learning, precision fluid dynamics, advanced brushing technologies, connectivity and wifi” to create what he described as “an entirely new way to keep your mouth healthy”.
Dyson’s entry into oral care comes amid growing competition in the smart electric toothbrush market, with established manufacturers already offering connected brushes and companion apps.
However, the British Dental Association cautioned consumers against assuming that expensive technology is essential for maintaining healthy teeth and gums.
BDA chair, Eddie Crouch, said consumers should not be misled into believing that sophisticated gadgets could replace good oral-health habits.
“Patients shouldn’t be lulled into thinking the latest gizmos will solve all their oral health problems. Big brands with high price tags are no substitute for a proper routine,” Crouch said.
The association continues to advise people to brush their teeth twice daily and follow recommendations from their dentist.
